Boys' bodies found on plane

The plane had flown directly to Heathrow

The bodies of two young African boys have been discovered in the undercarriage of a plane at Heathrow Airport.

Police are trying to identify the boys, aged between 12 and 14, who were found in a gap beneath the wing of a Ghana Airways plane at the west London airport on Saturday.

It is not clear whether they stowed away on the six-hour flight from Accra in Ghana to seek refuge, or if it was a prank that went wrong.

Both boys were dressed lightly, one in a short-sleeved top and the other wore open-toe sandals.

Photographs circulated

They carried only an empty wallet, an old padlock and two greetings cards.

A police source said: "It is horrific. They were very young and they mustn't have realised how cold it would get."

Officers believe the boys may be related and are working with Ghana police and Ghana Airways to try to identify them.

They intend to circulate photographs of the boys in Ghana.

Detective Constable Martyn Paley said: "These boys appeared to have been in a good state of health and I hope they will be missed."

A post-mortem examination was inconclusive and further tests are being carried out on the bodies.